Newsletter

As a reminder, Pierce County will be conducting the Yelm Levy Election. All registered voters in the Yelm Community Schools boundary will get a Pierce County ballot in a Pierce County envelope as shown below. You can turn in your ballot in the mail postage free or at the following ballot boxes.

Thurston County Locations

• Lackamas Elementary - 16240 Bald Hill Rd. SE; Yelm, WA 98597
• Nisqually Tribal Building - 4820 She Nah Num Dr. SE; Olympia, WA 98513
• Rainier City Hall - 102 Rochester St W, Rainier, WA 98576
• Yelm District Office - 110 1st St. NE; Yelm, WA 98597

Pierce County Location

• Roy City Hall - 216 McNaught Rd S, Roy WA 98580

If you do not receive a ballot, you can print a ballot online at Votewa.gov and mail it in.

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program is an essential component of Yelm’s educational framework and more than just an elective. The programs are designed to provide students with practical skills and knowledge necessary for success in various industries. The CTE Program continues to offer a diverse range of courses that align with current industry standards and demands even though we reduced 50 course offerings in high school Agriculture, Business, Manufacturing, Technical Theater and middle school computer science and robotics due to the levy loss.

Thank you to the 50+ industry and community partners who joined the Winter Advisory Meeting and engaged with students demonstrating their talents and technical skills. Learn more about these courses on our website.

Across the district parent organizations and inviduals from our community have stepped up to temporarily fill the need in our schools. Over 6,800 hours have been spend in our libraries, classrooms, fundraising and preparing classroom materials. But one special group formed to support our students in need. When the Outreach Coordinators were eliminated and counselors reduced, students and families struggled to access resources they needed. The Learners Without Limits and All Kids Win have been donating food, clothing, nutrition, and hygiene essentials to ensure students break through social and economic barriers so that every student graduates with a plan.

However, we didn't have a way for students to get these resources. The Community Outreach Volunteer Team has come to the rescue. Each Friday they fill the needs requested by students and deliver the materials to the schools. We are grateful they are filling the void so our students have the resources to thrive.

If you would like to be part of the Outreach Team, please email Shannon Gubser.

We are so proud of our Prairie Kinders who have been studying weather. In preparation for their showcase event at the Family Assembly, the learned various songs to share. Check out the questions they have for KIRO 7 Meteorologist and Prairie Alumni, Nick Allard. Thank you to the families that join each assembly who celebrate the learning of our students.

This year, three elementary schools joined forces for an exciting pilot program called Supportive Start, aimed at equipping our young learners with the essential academic, social-emotional, and developmental skills they need to thrive in kindergarten! Thanks to a generous grant from the Olympia Tumwater Foundation, each participating teacher received a bin brimming with fine motor tools designed for structured playtime. These fun tools not only help strengthen students' grip—a vital skill for mastering early writing—but also spark opportunities for kids to practice their social-emotional lessons as they share, communicate, and engage in playful adventures with their classmates.

The Yelm Tree Advisory Board cordially invites you to participate in the 29th Annual Arbor Day Art Contest. The theme of the art contest this year is “we celebrate trees because they…”

Submit all artwork that relates to the 2025 theme on standard white 8.5” x 11” paper whether hand-drawn or computer generated and please limit text on drawings

Please attend the arbor day celebration where winning art will be on display Friday, April 25, 2025, from 6:00pm – 7:00pm @ Yelm Community Center at 301 2nd St SE, Yelm, WA.

DEADLINE: Submit all entries at Yelm City Hall located at 106 second St SE no later than March 14, 2025.

We hope our entire community will join us in Kindness Spirit Week. Help your students plan ahead to demonstrate kindness each day!

Help our Yelm Grads receive scholarship funds by participating in the Taste of the Prairie, Online Auction or Live Auction. Visit the Dollars for Scholars website for details.

Jan 20: NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr Day

Jan 21-24: SmileMobile @ YHS

Jan 21: Levy Forum @ Fort Stevens 5:30pm

Jan 22: Levy Forum @ Yelm MS 6pm

Jan 23: School Board Meeting @ District Office 6pm

Jan 24: 1/2 Day - End of Semester (No preschool)

Jan 27-31: Kindness Week

Jan 28: Chief Leschi Day

Jan 31: Report Cards Posted in Family Access

Feb 11: Election Day

Email: communications@ycs.wednet.edu
Website: www.ycs.wednet.edu
Location: 107 North 1st Street, Yelm, Washington, USA
Phone: 360.458.1900
YouTube

Yelm Community Schools does not discriminate in any programs, activities or employment opportunities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Civil Rights: Doyla Buckingham, 360.458.1900, doyla_buckingham@ycs.wednet.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Lisa Cadero-Smith, 360.458.6120, lisa_cadero-smith@ycs.wednet.edu; and HIB & 504 Coordinator: Shannon Powell, 360.458.6124, shannon_powell@ycs.wednet.edu. Address: 107 First St N, PO Box 476, Yelm, WA 98597.